Best Way To Store Marijuana Flower

When it comes to cannabis, whether you’re a recreational marijuana consumer or a medical marijuana patient, proper storage is vital to ensure its longevity and quality. Improper storage can lead to a loss of potency, flavor, and even the growth of mold. In this guide, we’ll dive into the importance of cannabis storage, the general rules to follow, and the best containers to keep your marijuana flower fresh.

Why is Cannabis Storage Important?

Proper cannabis storage is crucial for maintaining the quality and potency of your marijuana flower.¹ Exposure to light and air can lead to decarboxylation, and exposure to moisture can cause mold to grow on your favorite strain. Moreover, any damage to those precious trichomes and terpenes means your bud just won’t taste as good either. There’s nothing fun about low-quality, foul-tasting marijuana.

General Marijuana Storage Rules

Proper cannabis storage is the key to preserving the quality, potency, and flavor of your precious marijuana flower. The most important guidelines cover temperature control, humidity management, and light and air exposure prevention, and they ensure your marijuana is just as good as the day you bought it. Here are the guidelines we follow:

• Maintain Proper Temperature: Storing your marijuana flower at the right temperature is essential. Ideally, you should keep it in a cool, dark place, around 70°F (21°C).² This helps prevent the breakdown of cannabinoids and terpenes, ensuring your cannabis stays potent and flavorful. It will also help you avoid any mold growth.
  
  
• Reduce Humidity: Excessive humidity can lead to mold growth, ruining your marijuana. Aim for a relative humidity level of 55-65%.² Using a humidity control pack or a cannabis humidor can help maintain the ideal moisture level.
  
  
• Avoid Air & Light: Exposure to air and light can accelerate the degradation of THC, it can dry out your marijuana, and it can help create a moldy mess you definitely don’t want to consume.² Choose a container that's airtight and light-resistant to keep your marijuana fresh for longer.

How Long Can You Store Cannabis Flower?

The shelf life of cannabis flower varies depending on how it's stored. When properly stored, it can retain its potency and flavor for up to one year—but even that might be pushing it.³

Ultimately, the longer you wait to enjoy your marijuana, the more likely it is that it will lose some of its potency. For example, marijuana that hasn’t been enjoyed for two years can lose up to 26% THC; after three years it can lose up to 34% THC; and after four years it can lose up to 41% THC.³ It's best to consume it within a year for the best experience.

Best Storage Containers for Cannabis Flower

Selecting the right storage container is crucial to keep your marijuana in optimal condition. Here are a couple of our most recommended options:

Airtight Glass Jar

A glass jar with a secure seal is a classic choice. It prevents air from entering, keeping your cannabis fresh.¹ If you want to get fancy, you can look for a UV-proof glass jar at your local dispensary, but a Mason jar will get the job done. Just make sure that you store your jar in a cool, dark, dry place, and that your jar’s size fits the amount of marijuana it contains. More space in a jar means more air in the jar, leading to a higher chance that your flower will dry out.

Cannabis Humidor

If you're a canna-connoisseur, consider investing in a cannabis humidor. These high-quality containers offer precise humidity control and come in various sizes to suit your needs.² Most dispensaries carry cannabis humidor options that will fit your budget. Just don’t be tempted to get a tobacco humidor. The wood they’re made from can damage your marijuana.

Can You Freeze or Refrigerate Cannabis Flower?

While freezing or refrigerating cannabis flower might seem like a good idea, it's not recommended. Extreme and fluctuating temperatures can damage the delicate trichomes, affecting the potency and flavor of your marijuana. It can also introduce moisture that will cause mold to grow.¹ However, if you need to store it for an extended period, we recommend getting a vacuum sealer, sealing your bud, and storing it in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to enjoy it.

Answering FAQs About Storing Flower

Cannabis storage is one of the most important facets of cannabis consumption. Here are a few things you might want to know:

How long does cannabis stay good in a plastic bag?
Cannabis stored in a plastic bag is not ideal. Plastic bags are not airtight and can expose your marijuana to air and light, leading to degradation.⁴ That said, vacuum-sealing your cannabis in plastic is a fine way to store your marijuana.

How can you keep buds fresher for longer?
To keep your buds as fresh as the day you bought it, we recommend using an airtight container, maintaining the right temperature and humidity, and avoiding exposure to light and air. All of this can be done by putting your marijuana in a small glass jar or vacuum sealing it and putting it in a cool dark place.

What’s the best smell-proof container?
Many airtight containers are already smell-proof. Look for a container with a strong seal and made of materials that won't let odors escape.² You can also choose to vacuum seal your marijuana, which will help to cut down on any odor.

Proper Cannabis Storage

In the world of cannabis, proper storage can make all the difference in preserving the potency and flavor of your marijuana flower. By following these general rules and investing in the right storage containers, you can enjoy a fresh and high-quality experience every time you indulge. So, take care of your stash, and it will take care of you.

Sources:

1. “How to store weed to keep it fresh and potent, according to experts,” Business Insider Reviews, April 22, 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/how-to-store-weed

2. “How to keep weed fresh,” Weedmaps, October 14, 2021, https://weedmaps.com/learn/products-and-how-to-consume/keep-weed-fresh

3. “How to Tell If Cannabis Is Past Its Prime,” Healthline, February 24, 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/does-weed-go-bad

4. “Cannabis Storage: How to Store Weed So It’ll Last,” Leafwell, October 7, 2024, https://leafwell.com/blog/how-to-store-cannabis

Use of Marijuana Concentrate may lead to: Psychotic symptoms and/or Psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations, or difficulty distinguishing reality); Mental Health Symptoms/Problems; Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) (uncontrolled and repetitive vomiting); Cannabis use disorder/dependence, including physical and psychological dependence.   Please consume responsibly. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product.  State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and medical marijuana patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.